Reduction of Vulnerability to Coastal Flooding through Ecosystem-based Adaptation in the South of Artemisa and Mayabeque Provinces

Reduction of Vulnerability to Coastal Flooding through Ecosystem-based Adaptation in the South of Artemisa and Mayabeque ProvincesAya Mimura2019-05-22T01:25:02-04:00

This project focuses specifically on an 84 km long stretch of coastline between Punta Sucia and Punta Mora in the western provinces of Artemisa and Mayabeque, covering 6 municipalities. This coastline, which lies on the Gulf of Batabanó, is comprised of a large coastal wetland area based on clay and terrestrial deposits, dominated by mangroves. This is one of the most vulnerable regions in the country to tropical storms and hurricanes, and associated storm surges. The project will rely on a combination of natural regeneration and artificial regeneration (planting) to achieve the recovery of structure, function and ecosystem services in mangroves and other associated coastal ecosystems.

The project area is particularly to subject to saline intrusion into its subterranean aquifers, which are vital for the irrigation of the coastal plains, which are some of the most productive agricultural in the country, and as a source of drinking water for the city of Havana. Because of the narrowness of this area, which in places is little more than 30 kilometers in width, it’s susceptible to climate change-related impacts. Some of the highest levels of beach erosion in the country have occurred in this area, and the mangroves of the area also have some of the lowest health indices in the western region of the country.